Latch with emergency release means



y 1965 J. v. FALLARINO ETAL 3,181,904

LATCH WITH EMERGENCY RELEASE MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 7, 1963INVENTOR.

JHMES v- FnLLHR/No EDWHZD BUksbpuM FIG-7 ATTozNEj United States PatentYork Filed Nov. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 322,159 6 Claims. (Cl. 292-93) Thisinvention relates to a latch with emergency release means, and inparticular, a latch which is adapted to be used on a door having normallocking and unlocking means on only one side, for example, the inside ofthe door, and yet having emergency release means which can be operatedfrom outside the door.

A latch made in accordance with this invention may be used in many typesof applications. However, it is particularly suited for use withpartition doors in rest rooms and the like so that privacy may beailforded to the occupant of a cubicle or partition in a rest room, anda provision may be made for unlatching the partition door in the eventof an emergency so that the door may be opened easily from the outside.

It is customary in designing buildings where large numbers of the publiccongregate such as office buildings, theatres, restaurant constructionsand the like, to provide sanitary facilities for the occupants whichcomprise individual facilities partitioned off, and each having its ownpartition door which can be locked from the inside for privacy. Fromtime to time, an emergency may arise where the occupant of such apartitioned area or cubicle may become ill or incapacitated, and forsuch reason or other reason, it may be necessary for the persons incontrol of the facilities to be enabled to open the partition door fromthe outside, sometimes even against the will of the occupant.

This is particularly true of schools where the pupil may latch the doorof the partition and climb out leaving the compartment inoperative. Thecustodian would then have difficulty in reopening the compartment sincethe latching mechanism is on the inside.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a latch havinga bolt which may be operated manually from one side of a door or closuremeans, and which will have secret emergency release means operable fromthe outside of the door or closure means.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a latch which issimple in construction, and requires a minimum of mechanically operableparts.

It is also an object of this invention to provide such a latch adaptedfor use with a partition door which is simple to install in a permanentmanner, and it is a further object of this invention to provide a latchfor a partition door having securing means which are completelyconcealed from view and having no bolts, screws or other exposedfastening means.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a latch which isvandal and theft proof.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the speciiicationhereinbelow. These objects and advantages are achieved with theinvention illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a partition incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section along the lines 2-2 in P16. 1 withsome of the lines in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of a detail of the latch portion of theinvention similar to that shown in FIG. 2 with some of the lines showndotted and in phantom to indicate various positions of the latch;

FIG. 4 is an exploded end view of the latch as shown in FIG. 3;

3,l8l,9h4 Fatented May 4, 1965 FIG. 5 is a detail in perspective of thatportion of. the door shown in H6. 1 to which the latch is mounted withthe rest of the door broken away;

PEG. 6 is an alternate form of upper hinge of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an alternate form of lower hinge of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a detail in perspective of the latch bolt and strike of theinvention; and

P16. 9 is a detail in perspective of an alternate form of latch bolt andstrike of the invention.

in the usual type of rest room provided for public use, there are one ormore cubicle or partition assemblies 20 made up of panels 22, pilasters24 and doors 26. The pilasters 24- provide the door frame for the dooras. In modern construction, these components, such as the panels,pilasters and doors, are formed of spaced opposed metal sheets or skinssuch as sides 28, 3t? and 32 respectively. 'F or purposes of showing howthe latch construction of the invention is installed in a door such asdoor 26, the opposed metal sheets of the door will be identified byreference numerals 52 and 34 in order to distinguish between therespective outer and inner sides.

In the usual practice, the hardware for use with such doors and panelsis bolted to the said components in much the same manner as hinges asare fastened to piiasier or door frame as; and door so by means offastening means such as bolts at) and 4-2.. The novel components of ourinvention comprise the hinges 36 and the latch 44. The latch dd isprovided with a latch bolt 46 having a leading edge or nose 4% withoffset or bevelled portions 53. Since the latch is adapted for bothright and left hand installation, at least one bevelled portion 50 willalways be in an upper corner of the nose of bolt 46.

The hinges 36 have stationary leaves 52 and swinging leaves 5constructed so that the swinging leaves 54 have male pintle means, orpintle pin means such as pintles 56 adapted to float in sliding fittingrelationship within axial and radial female pintle means, or pintle pinconnecting means such as pintle shafts 58 located in the stationaryleaves 52. The male 56 and female 58 pintle means together comprise thepintle means of the invention.

Latch bolt 45 is adapted to move linearly from the door 26 toward strikemeans such as a strike bracket 69 which is mounted on pilaster 24 byfastening means 62 to receive the nose 4-3 of latch bolt 46 within astrike opening at. Strike opening 64 will normally have faced opposinglateral stops or strikes on and 6S, and in addition an upper stop orstrike 70. Stops 66 and 68 will be in a vertical plane, and stop 7t)will be in a horizontal plane. Latch bolt 46 will normally be ofrectangular cross section, and have sides such as sides 72 which willengage stops 6d and 66 when the latch bolt is in extended position withnose 4% within strike 64.

This Will prevent door 26 from being opened, and will effectively lockthe door.

When latch bolt as is in withdrawn position, nose 43 will not extendinto strike 64- and door 26 will be permitted to swing freely on hingesas to be opened or closed without hindrance. A stop '74 having aresilient block of rubber or plastic 76 is provided to align door 26 inproper closed position with relation to strike 64 so that latch bolt asmay be extended into the strike with facility.

A finger grip 8%, located on inside of door 26, is provided forcooperation with latch bolt 46 so that the latch bolt may be moved inthe direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings to lock andunlock the door as.

In the form of invention shown in the drawings, the

nose 48 of latch bolt 46 extends from the door 26 through an opening 82when in locking position, and may be completely withdrawn into opening82 in unlocked position. Thus, it is apparent that when door 26 is inlocked position with latch bolt 46 in extended position, strike 64 willeffectively prevent the door from being opened from the outside exceptfor the provision of the secret release means of the invention whichcomprise the floating pintle means 56 and 58 and the offset or bevelledportion 50 of latch bolt 46 and the upper stop 70 of strike 64. Thesecomponents cooperate with each other to unlatch the bolt 46 when thedoor 26 is raised as will be described.

Reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings will show that if force or pressureis applied to door 26 in an upward direction as signified by arrowsunderneath the door, the door will move up from its normal positioncarrying swinging hinge leaves 54 upwardly away from stationary leaves52. This movement from lower normal position to upper raised position ispossible because pintle 56 floats within pintle shaft 58 and is capablenot only of rotatable movement but also of axial movement. As door 26 islifted to upper position, offset or bevelled edge 50 will hit upper stop70, and the force of contact will push latch bolt 46 from its secondextended, or locking position, to its first withdrawn, or unlockingposition, and at the same time clear latch bolt 46 from strike 64. Atthis point, door 26 will be unlocked and will swing inwardly.

Thus, a latch mechanism has been described in combination with at leastone hinge which permits a door to be locked from the inside affordingprivacy, and yet permits the said door to be opened from the outside bya person having an understanding of the secret release features.

Because of the construction of the latch part of the mechanism as shownin the drawings, it may be permanently fastened to a door constructionwithout means of external bolts or other external fasteners. This isaccomplished by providing a latch housing 90 comprised of sub housings92 and 94 which can be fitted into openings 96 and 98 respectively inouter sheet 32 and inner sheet 34 of door 26 to form the combinedhousing 90. Sub housing 92 has an outer surface 100 with a flanged edge102 and an inner platform means 104 as well as nosed insertion means 106and hook receiving means 108. Inner insertable portion 92 also has anelongated opening 110 through which operating means 80 may be insertedfor contact with latch bolt 46.

Sub housing 94 has an outer surface 112 having flanged edge 114, nosedinserting portion 116, inner platform means 118 and spring hook means120 attached thereto. Spring hook means 120 is attached to the outerlatch housing portion 94 by means of a rivet or other fastener at point122 at its first end, and has a hook formation 124 at its second endwhich is adapted to fit into hook receiving means 108. Latch bolt 46 hasconnecting means such a circular opening 126 which receives the end 128of means 80. Means 80 comprises a shaft 130 adapted to fit throughopening 110, and has a connecting means such as the circular washer 128swedged onto the inner end thereof. Thus means 80 is pro-attached to subhousing 92 of latch housing 90. The connecting means 128 is adapted toride between platforms 104 and 118. Openings 96 and 98 are generallyrectangular in shape, and are relatively smaller than the outsideflanged perimeter of surfaces 100 and 112. They are placed in the sidesof the door 26 in relative position to opening 82 on the end of thedoor. The latch 44 is mounted in the following manner.

Latch bolt 46 is placed on sub housing 92 by placing latch bolt 46 onplatform 104 with its opening 126 on connecting means 128. Nosed portion166 of sub housing 92 as well as nosed portion 116 of sub housing 94 arethen inserted into openings 96 and 98 respectively from opposite sidestoward opening 82. Leading edges 140 and 142 of the flanges 102 and 114respectively will engage outside of edges 144 and 146 of openings 96 and98 respectively. Spring hook means 120 which is affixed to outer portion94, will engage the hook engaging means 108 of inner portion 92. Inaddition, inner portion 92 has been provided with spacing means 150 and152. The function of spacing means 150 and 152 is auxiliary to thepermanent closure of the device, and helps to space the parts apartduring insertion and afterwards. When the latch 44 is completelyinserted, the flanged edges 102 and 114 will be pulled together by meansof the spring 120 and the hooking of the leading edges as described sothat the two outer surfaces and 112 will be snugly fitted by a bondbetween them within the spaced openings 96 and 98 of the door 26.

The purpose of providing the connecting means in the form of a spring isso that the hook 124 will have a resiliency to go around and enter thehook engaging means 108.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, we show other forms of hinges made inaccordance with the invention. FIG. 6 shows an upper hinge and FIG. 7 alower hinge 151. Upper hinge 150 comprises a U-shapcd insert 152 whichis fitted to the edge of a door 153. There are suitable openings 154 and155 through which male pintle means, such as pintle pin 156, may beinserted and maintained in position. This constitutes the swinging leaf150. The stationary leaf portion 158 comprises a U-shaped base 159adapted to be m0unt ed on a pilaster or door frame 24 having extendingtherefrom an arm 160 with an annular opening 161 (comprising the femalepintle means) adapted to receive pintle pin 156. If desired, a collar ofTeflon or other low friction material 162 may be inserted within annularopening 161 to provide for friction-free radial and axial movement ofthe components. It will be appreciated by referring to FIG. 6 of thedrawings that swinging leaf 157 of hinge 150 is adapted for axialmovement within the limits of the opening within insert 152. A shieldmay also be provided for purposes of design beauty where indicated atreference numeral 164.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, we illustrate lower hinge 151which comprises a swinging leaf 165 having a channeled bracket 166adapted to fit in a cutout lower corner of door 153, and having alaterally extending arm 167 with an annular opening 168. Stationary leaf170 comprises a U-shaped bracket 171 adapted to be fastened to pilaster24 having a laterally extending arm 172 to which a pintle pin 173 isconnected by suitable fastening means such as a bolt 174.

It will be appreciated that hinge 151 is adapted for both radial andaxial movement since opening 168 rests over pintle pin 173 by means offorce of gravity only. In a preferred form, we also provide a sleevearound pintle pin 173 and an internal insert 181 within opening 168 madeof Teflon or other low friction material, and we also provide forgravitational alignment of the door in closed position by bevelling thefacing and normally contacting inner ends 182 and 183 of the said sleeve180 and insert 181 respectively.

While the invention has form, there are other forms which it may take.For example, the combination of the cammed offset or bevelled portion50, latch nose 48 and floating hinges 36 may be used with other types ofdoor constructions, and need not be incorporated with the particularlatch housing described herein for use in a double surfaced metal shelldoor. In such case, the construction of the latch mechanism could varyso long as it had the essential offset portion such as portion 50cooperating with a horizontal stop such as stop 70 and a pair offloating hinges.

In addition, while the preferred form of latch 46 has been described asrectangular in cross section, it is posbeen described in its preferred 5sible to build the device with a latch such as latch 46a which iscircular in cross section, and is adapted to cooperate with a circularstrike such as strike 6 in. However, this will not depart from thespirit of the invention so long as there is an ofiset or bevelledportion such as 56:: at the upper part of nose 48a of the latch bolt45a.

in addition, we have described our latch mechanism f t as being fittedinto openings in the outer and inner sheets of a metal door. The samelatch mechanism housing 90 may be fitted into a through opening in asolid wooden door or into opposed facing openings in any type of door.

There are also other forms which the invention may take, and we,therefore, desire to have protection for all forms of the device comingwithin the scope of the claims hereinbelow.

Wherefore we claim:

1. In an emergency release for a partition door lock set, thecombination of a door comprising latch construction having a boltmounted for linear movement from a first position within the door to asecond position protruding from the door, said latch bolt comprising anupper edge with at least a portion thereof which protrudes from the doorin the said second position having a bevel, and said door havingattached to it a leaf of at least one hinge comprising a pair of leavesconnected by pintle means, and in which said pintle means are adaptedfor both radial and axial movement of the said leaves with relation toeach other; whereby when the said latch bolt is in the said secondposition and the said door is moved axially with relation to the saidpintle means in the direction of the said upper edge of the said latchbolt, the said bevel of the said latch bolt is adapted to engage strikemeans and be thereby forced back from the said second position to thesaid first position.

2. The combination as described in claim 1 together with a door framehaving a strike means with at least one stop in a vertical position withrelation to the door frame, and at least one stop in a horizontalposition with relation to the door frame, and having the other of saidhinge leaves attached to said door frame whereby when the said door ismounted in the said door frame by means of the said hinges, and the saidlatch bolt is in second position, it will extend past both the saidvertical and horizontal stops in the strike means, and the bevelled 1portion of the said latch bolt will be beneath the horizontal portion ofthe said strike means.

3. A lock and hinge set for a partition door adapted to be mountedwithin a door frame: comprising in combination, lock means including alatch adapted to be mounted on the said door, and a strike means adaptedto be mounted on the said door frame, and hinge means including aplurality of hinges having leaf means adapted to be mounted on saiddoor, and said door frame respectively, in which the said latchcomprises a latch bolt having a nose portion with bevel means, and saidstrike means comprises a body portion with an opening therethroughproviding at least one upper strike and at least one side strike; and inwhich each of said pair of hinges comprises a leaf means including malepintle means and another leaf means including female pintle means, saidmale and female pintle means being engaged in slide fitting relation toprovide for rotational and axial movement relative to each other; inwhich the said nose portion of the said latch bolt is adapted to bemoved within the said body portion of the said strike means to providelocking engagement in cooperation with the said side strike thereof,with said bevel means of said latch bolt being positioned beneath saidupper strike, so that when the said door to which the said lock andhinge set is adapted to be mounted is moved axially on said hinges withrelation to the said door frame, in an upward direction, the said latchbolt will be raised and the said bevel means ti will engage the saidupper strike thereby to force the said latch bolt out of the said strikemeans.

4. A lock and hinge set for a partition door adapted to be mountedwithin a door frame: comprising in combination, lock means including alatch adapted to be mounted on the said door, and a strike means adaptedto be mounted on the said door frame, and hinge means including aplurality of hinges having leaf means adapted to be mounted on said doorand said door frame respectively; in which the said latch comprises alatch bolt having a nose portion with bevel means, and said strike meanscomprises a body portion with an opening therethrough providing at leastone upper strike and at least one side strike; and in which each of saidpair of hinges comprises a leaf means including pintle pin means andanother leaf means including pintle pin connecting means, said pintlepin and pintle pin connecting means being engaged in slide fittingrelation to provide for rotational and axial movement relative to eachother; in which the said nose portion of the said latch bolt is adaptedto be moved within the said body portion of the said strike means toprovide locking engagement in cooperation with the said side strikethereof, with said bevel means of said latch bolt being positionedbeneath said upper strike, so that when the said door to which the saidlock and hinge set is adapted to be mounted is moved axially on saidhinges with relation to the said door frame, in an upward direction, thesaid latch bolt will be raised and the said bevel means will engage thesaid upper strike thereby to force the said latch bolt out of the saidstrike means.

5. A latch mechanism having a main body portion comprising a latch boltand adapted to be installed in a door having a through opening: in whichsaid main body portion of the said latch is comprised of at least twoparts, each of said parts having an outer face relatively larger thanthe said through opening to form in each of said parts respectively atleast a pair of shoulders, one of said parts having hook receivingmeans, and the other of said parts having a hook so that when the saidbody portion parts are placed into the through opening from oppositesides, the said hook will engage the said hook receiving means toprevent the said parts from being separated, and the said shoulders willbe in opposed faced relationship contacting and gripping the oppositesides of said through opening.

6. A latch mechanism having a main body portion comprising a latch boltand adapted to be installed in a hollow door comprising two surfaceskins having openings in the said surface skins; in which said main bodyportion of the said latch is comprised of at least two parts, each ofsaid parts having an outer face relatively larger than the said openingsto form in each of said parts respectively at least a pair of shoulders,one of said parts having hook receiving means, and the other of saidparts having a hook so that when the said body portion parts are placedinto the opening from opposite sides, the said hook will engage the saidhook receiving means to prevent the said parts from being separated, andthe said shoulders will be in opposed faced relationship contacting andgripping the said openings from opposite sides.

References ilted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,202,068 10/ 16Iuruick 20-16 1,775,681 9/30 Marino 20-16 2,118,722 5/38 Bock 292-932,558,361 6/51 Johnston 292-74 2,997,751 7/61 McPherren 2016 3,004,30310/61 Wilmer 20--16 3,057,649 10/62 Check 292--74 3,078,502 2/63 Nelson16-468 M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner.

1. IN AN EMERGENCY RELEASE FOR A PARTITION DOOR LOCK SET, THECOMBINATION OF A DOOR COMPRISING LATCH CONSTRUCTION HAVING A BOLTMOUNTED FOR LINEAR MOVEMENT FROM A FIRST POSITION WITHIN THE DOOR TO ASECOND POSITION PROTRUDING FROM THE DOOR, SAID LATCH BOLT COMPRISING ANUPPER EDGE WITH AT LEAST A PORTION THEREOF WHICH PROTRUDES FROM THE DOORIN THE SAID SECOND POSITION HAVING A BEVEL, AND SAID DOOR HAVINGATTACHED TO IT A LEAF OF A LEAST ONE HINGE COMPRISING A PAIR OF LEAVESCONNECTED BY PINTLE MEANS, AND IN WHICH SAID PINTLE MEANS ARE ADAPTEDFOR BOTH RADIAL AND AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE SAID LEAVES WITH RELATION TOEACH OTHER; WHEREBY WHEN THE SAID LATCH BOLT IS IN THE SAID SECONDPOSITION AND THE SAID DOOR IS MOVED AXIALLY WITH RELATION TO THE SAIDPINTLE MEANS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SAID UPPER EDGE OF THE SAID LATCHBOLT, THE SAID BEVEL OF THE SAID LATCH BOLT IS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE STRIKEMEANS AND BE THEREBY FORCED BACK FROM THE SAID SECOND POSITION TO THESAID FIRST POSITION.